on-site sawmilling and timber conversion information ... - The Chilterns

1. Introduction
i
The aim of this sawmilling pack
This pack is intended to illustrate to woodland owners how they can use a mobile
sawmill to process their timber. It is not designed as a technical document but to
provide an introduction to one important way of raising revenue from a wood. Owners
can find out more about the process by contacting sawyers and woodland owners who
have used mobile sawmills.
ii
What is On-Site Conversion?
On site conversion is cutting felled timber into useful products within the wood. Using
a mobile sawmill for on-site conversion is one way to do this. Other ways may be to use
a firewood processor, woodchipper or a bark peeling machine. Which method of
conversion you use depends on what products are required and the material available.
iii
Why Use a Mobile Sawmill for On-Site Conversion?
On-site conversion can:
• Add value to your timber for sale.
• Can make small parcels of timber saleable.
• Convert material for your own use.
• Do away with road transport costs to and from a commercial sawmill.
• Produce many different items such as planks, beams, gateposts, flooring, featheredged
cladding boards and so on, which can be used around your estate. This
can provide considerable savings as it cuts out the need to buy raw materials
from elsewhere.
• Allow unusual timber, character or sizes to be cut.
• Assist the management of your wood.
• Allow specific trees to be processed into specific products.
• Produce valuable by-products such as sawdust that you can use yourself or
sell on as a product.
iv
Adding Value
Adding value by one or more of the methods to convert timber is a way to balance the
cost of managing a small woodland. It can:
• Increase returns from felled timber
• Reduce expenditure on bought-in wood products
• Give the satisfaction of a known timber provenance